Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2024

Badge for BEST IN MARYLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Maryland offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in Maryland

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  1. Anne Arundel Community College
  2. Montgomery College
  3. Cecil College
  4. Garrett College
  5. Community College of Baltimore County
  6. Prince George's Community College
  7. College of Southern Maryland
  8. Howard Community College
  9. Allegany College of Maryland
  10. Baltimore City Community College
  1. Anne Arundel Community College
  2. Montgomery College
  3. Cecil College
  4. Baltimore City Community College
  5. Prince George's Community College
  6. Community College of Baltimore County
  7. College of Southern Maryland
  8. Howard Community College
  9. Garrett College
  10. Hagerstown Community College
    1. Anne Arundel Community College 16 to 1
    2. College of Southern Maryland 16 to 1
    3. Frederick Community College 16 to 1
    4. Hagerstown Community College 16 to 1
    5. Prince George's Community College 16 to 1
    6. Montgomery College 16 to 1
    7. Chesapeake College 15 to 1
    8. Harford Community College 15 to 1
    9. Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
    10. Carroll Community College 14 to 1
    1. Garrett College $8,792
    2. Montgomery College $8,070
    3. Anne Arundel Community College $7,920
    4. Allegany College of Maryland $7,860
    5. Cecil College $7,290
    6. Howard Community College $6,939
    7. Frederick Community College $6,768
    8. Wor–Wic Community College $6,192
    9. Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
    10. College of Southern Maryland $5,760
      1. Carroll Community College
      2. Harford Community College
      3. Chesapeake College
      4. Hagerstown Community College
      5. Wor–Wic Community College
      6. Frederick Community College
      7. Baltimore City Community College
      8. Allegany College of Maryland
      9. Howard Community College
      10. College of Southern Maryland
      1. Carroll Community College
      2. Wor–Wic Community College
      3. Chesapeake College
      4. Allegany College of Maryland
      5. Harford Community College
      6. Frederick Community College
      7. Hagerstown Community College
      8. Garrett College
      9. Howard Community College
      10. College of Southern Maryland
        1. Allegany College of Maryland 11 to 1
        2. Wor–Wic Community College 12 to 1
        3. Cecil College 12 to 1
        4. Garrett College 12 to 1
        5. Baltimore City Community College 12 to 1
        6. Howard Community College 13 to 1
        7. Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
        8. Carroll Community College 14 to 1
        9. Chesapeake College 15 to 1
        10. Harford Community College 15 to 1
        1. Baltimore City Community College $2,640
        2. Prince George's Community College $5,016
        3. Chesapeake College $5,376
        4. Carroll Community College $5,496
        5. Harford Community College $5,520
        6. College of Southern Maryland $5,760
        7. Hagerstown Community College $5,760
        8. Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
        9. Wor–Wic Community College $6,192
        10. Frederick Community College $6,768

          Colleges and Universities in Maryland

          The Old Line State has 46 colleges and universities, 30 of which are public and 16 of which are private. The United States Naval Academy offers programs in physical sciences, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture. The largest private institution, Johns Hopkins University, has just over 24,000 students and a tuition rate of $54,000. Located in Baltimore, this research university is known for its science and medical discoveries.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          The University of Maryland in College Park boasts over 35,000 students with a price tag of $11,000. The school has 15 campuses, and students can choose from areas of study like criminal justice, communications, physics, and sociology. The most affordable school in the state, Baltimore City Community College comes in at $3,000 and has 37 associate degree programs to choose from. Maryland also provides loan forgiveness programs for its residents, including those for dentists and public servants. Students can also check out the Maryland SmartBuy Home Buyer Assistance and Forgiveness Program, where eligible applicants can receive up to 15% of the home purchase price toward outstanding student loan, to be paid off as part of closing.

          Maryland is a state bursting with history, from its numerous museums to its historic battlegrounds. Students who attend school in Maryland can explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Park and walk the same streets as many influential Marylanders, including Francis Scott Key, Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday, and Thurgood Marshall.

          Whether you’re looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Maryland offers its students history, legacy, and numerous degree paths.


          What are Maryland’s Colleges & Universities?

          Maryland’s Best Overall

          Maryland's Best Community Colleges Badge
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          We’ve identified 16 community colleges in Maryland. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Maryland.

          Best Community Colleges in Maryland

          1. #3

            Cecil College

            North East , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            28%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Cecil College

            Cost of Degree: $8,310
            Starting Salary: $36,700
            What is Cecil College known for?

            Cecil College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          2. #4

            Garrett College

            McHenry , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $10K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            <1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Garrett College

            Cost of Degree: $9,996
            Expenses: $11,460
            Starting Salary: $31,600
            Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Garrett College known for?

            Garrett College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          3. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            17%

            Student body

            15K

            Career Outlook for degree at Prince George's Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,194
            Starting Salary: $43,700
            What is Prince George's Community College known for?

            Prince George's Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          4. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at College of Southern Maryland

            Cost of Degree: $7,200
            Starting Salary: $40,600
            What is College of Southern Maryland known for?

            College of Southern Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          5. Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            23%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at Howard Community College

            Cost of Degree: $7,704
            Starting Salary: $44,000
            What is Howard Community College known for?

            Howard Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          6. Tuition + fees

            $9K

            Graduation

            35%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Allegany College of Maryland

            Cost of Degree: $8,720
            Expenses: $16,476
            Starting Salary: $33,200
            Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Allegany College of Maryland known for?

            Allegany College of Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          7. Tuition + fees

            $3K

            Graduation

            10%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Baltimore City Community College

            Cost of Degree: $3,314
            Starting Salary: $32,500
            What is Baltimore City Community College known for?

            Baltimore City Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          8. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            7K

            Career Outlook for degree at Frederick Community College

            Cost of Degree: $7,444
            Starting Salary: $42,100
            What is Frederick Community College known for?

            Frederick Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          9. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            20%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Wor–Wic Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,720
            Starting Salary: $31,400
            What is Wor–Wic Community College known for?

            Wor–Wic Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          10. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            35%

            Student body

            5K

            Career Outlook for degree at Hagerstown Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,390
            Starting Salary: $37,000
            What is Hagerstown Community College known for?

            Hagerstown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          11. #14

            Chesapeake College

            Wye Mills , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            28%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Chesapeake College

            Cost of Degree: $6,344
            Starting Salary: $31,200
            What is Chesapeake College known for?

            Chesapeake College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          12. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            6K

            Career Outlook for degree at Harford Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,168
            Starting Salary: $36,500
            What is Harford Community College known for?

            Harford Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          13. #16

            Carroll Community College

            Westminster , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            42%

            Student body

            4K

            Career Outlook for degree at Carroll Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,918
            Starting Salary: $35,600
            What is Carroll Community College known for?

            Carroll Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

          1. Montgomery College
          2. Baltimore City Community College
          3. Garrett College
          4. Hagerstown Community College
          5. College of Southern Maryland
          6. Chesapeake College
          7. Frederick Community College
          8. Carroll Community College
          9. Howard Community College
          10. Community College of Baltimore County
          11. Prince George's Community College
          12. Harford Community College
          13. Cecil College
          14. Wor–Wic Community College
          15. Allegany College of Maryland
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